Man sentenced in connection with July homicide

A Midland man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for supplying and hiding a gun used in the July shooting death of a young Midland mother.

Carlos Martinez III, 21, pleaded guilty Friday to a third-degree felony charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and a first-degree felony charge of murder, according to a press release from the Midland County District Attorney’s Office.

Also charged in the case are Deseare Breausha Carroll, 22, of Midland, and Arron Joshua Castillo, 20, of Lubbock.

Carroll pleaded guilty to the tampering with evidence charge on March 20 and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Castillo awaits trail for first-degree murder and faces five to 99 years in prison if convicted.

The shooting occurred at about 1 a.m. July 11 at the Midland Village Apartments. Police found Kyara West lying in a large grassy area on the complex’s west side with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest area, according to Reporter-Telegram records.

Carroll told police that Castillo, the alleged shooter, told her he had shot West multiple times.

Previous reports state Martinez allegedly supplied the murder weapon to Castillo on July 10 and told police he did not know why Castillo needed the gun. But further investigation showed that Martinez had previously supplied that same gun, a .38 special revolver, to Castillo for use in an April shooting of West’s mother, Trudy West.

After the shooting, Martinez told police that he disposed of the weapon in some bushes.